Introduction to method validation Vicki Barwick LGC Overview What is method validation? Why is method validation necessary? When and how do you validate a method? Method performance parameters How do you assess fitness-for-purpose? What is validation? The confirmation by examination and the provision of objective evidence that the particular requirements for a specific intended use are fulfilled specific intended use = analytical requirement objective evidence = experimental data (method performance parameters) confirmation (from comparison of requirement with evidence) [ISO/IEC 17025 definition] 2006 LGC Limited 1
Why is method validation necessary? Ethical establish fitness-for-purpose on customer s behalf good science Commercial due care in product liability Regulatory/regulatory legal requirements consistent application of method comparability between analysts / laboratories / countries When do you validate a method? During method development Before using any method for samples verify own ability to match published data verify suitability for analytical requirement Change of application / working environment / analyst Following period of non-use Method development lifecycle New method/ purpose Change of use (Re)-validation plan Develop/extend method Continued performance verification (QC/QA) Decide fitness- for-purpose Implement: verify local performance (EQ) 2006 LGC Limited 2
Who validates a method? The analyst in-house development and validation of new methods verification of the performance of previously validated methods The laboratory method development and validation section Sectoral/professional/standardization body validation of methods via interlaboratory study How do you validate a method? Define the analytical requirement Develop/identify candidate method Plan validation experiments Key stages before validation can begin NO Carry out experiments Statement of validation YES Analytical requirement met? Use data to assess fitness-forpurpose A validation puzzle Detection limits Precision Working range Selectivity Uncertainty Linearity Statistics Bias/ Trueness Ruggedness 2006 LGC Limited 3
Method performance parameters Providing evidence that the method produces results that are fit-for-purpose Precision (repeatability, reproducibility) how close are the results of replicate measurements made on the same sample? Bias, recovery how close are the results to the right answer Working range (LoD, LoQ, Linearity) Ruggedness/robustness control necessary for each stage of the procedure Selectivity/specificity are there any interferences? Measures of quality Precision, bias and accuracy improving trueness improving accuracy bias improving precision Different precision measures Increasing σ between aliquots within batch between measurement batches between laboratories repeatability (s r ) reproducibility (s R ) Precision is expressed as a standard deviation or relative standard deviation 2006 LGC Limited 4
Bias Bias Reference value Replicate analysis of reference material Bias = difference between mean value of analytical results and reference value Bias is a measure of Trueness Working & linear range 1.0 0.8 Working Range Response 0.6 0.4 0.2 0 LoD LoQ Linear range 0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0 1.2 Concentration LoD = Limit of Detection LoQ = Limit of Quantitation Ruggedness testing Key experimental parameters affect the method performance small variations in these parameters cause method performance to change need appropriate control Ruggedness testing identifies key parameters make deliberate changes to method parameters observe effect on results Control key parameters results in a rugged method 2006 LGC Limited 5
Fitness-for-purpose Analyse data from method performance parameters Are target values achieved? YES - method is fit-for-purpose NO - more development required Method is validated by the declaration of fitness-forpurpose Summary Method validation is required to produce meaningful data Both in-house and standard methods require validation/verification Validation should be a planned activity parameters required will vary with application Validation is not complete without a statement of fitnessfor-purpose 2006 LGC Limited 6